The latter looks at art, in particular a wide range of decorative arts, from 1215 to 1368, encompassing paintings, textiles, ceramics, lacquer, sculpture, silver and more. What may surprise some decorative arts enthusiasts is that, despite being an era of Mongol occupation, creativity really flourished during the Yuan Dynasty. Notes The Met: "Chinese culture not only survived but was reinvigorated," and the upcoming show explores some of the reasons why.

We've already talked about Chinamania, open further down the coast at Washington, D.C.'s Freer Gallery, but mentioning it again will help me transition to a California happening. This smaller show focuses on American expatriate painter James McNeill Whistler's affinity for Chinese decorative arts and the related craze for blue-and-white Chinese export porcelain that swept through Victorian England. Chinamania continues through early August 2011.

Heading out to the West Coast, the October exhibition at this year's San Francisco Fall Antiques Show is Chinoiserie: Rococo to Eco. So, the main focus here is design based on Western fantasies of China, as well as other Asian countries. (With fantasy being the key word.) It's all about the West's centuries-old love affair with Far Eastern aesthetics. Guest lecturers include David Beevers, Keeper of the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, and Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent.

Also speaking is John S. Major, former professor at Dartmouth College and co-author of China Chic: East Meets West. Look for Major to delve into 21st-century fashion, specifically Chinese-American designers.